3 Simple Ways to Teach Make 10 Facts

When teaching early addition, one of the most foundational strategies for young learners is understanding “Make 10” addition facts. These are pairs of numbers that, when added together, equal 10, such as 1 + 9, 2 + 8, and 5 + 5. Mastering these facts helps students build strong number sense, making it easier for them to tackle more complex math concepts down the road

When students can quickly recall make 10 facts, it gives them a reliable mental strategy for breaking down larger problems into manageable steps, laying the groundwork for strategies like regrouping and addition with larger numbers.

Why are Make 10 Facts Important?

Make 10 facts help form the basis of understanding how numbers relate to each other in a way that is easy for young learners to grasp. This addition strategy is important because it helps kids get comfortable with numbers. When students know these facts, like 7+3 or 6+4, they can use them as a quick strategy to solve more complex problems. It’s one of those foundational skills that makes bigger math concepts, like regrouping or multi-digit addition, so much easier later on. Plus, it gives students a little boost of confidence because they have a go-to trick for figuring things out faster. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference in how they approach math overall!

Make 10 Addition Strategy Anchor Chart 

Visuals are key when it comes to introducing a new math concept. Create an anchor chart with your students so they can visually see all the different ways to make 10 facts. The key to using anchor charts is that they are to be made with your students.

My 1st grade addition to 10 unit includes a student version of this anchor chart that they add to their math journals. This serves as a visual reference for them all year long.

Visit this blog post if you are looking for how to get started using anchor charts. 

Make 10 with Unifix Cubes

In unison with creating our class anchor chart, have students build visual representations of make 10 facts using unifix cubes. 

• Each student needs 2 sets of 10 unifix cubes (preferably different colors). 
• You will start with 0+10. Have them put together 10 cubes of the same color. Explain that you have 10 cubes of one color and 0 of the other. Their cubes represent 0+10. Then, have them “flip” their set of 10 to create the turn around fact. 
• Repeat with 1+9. Have them build 1 and 9 to make ten. Solve for the sum. Then have them “flip” their set of 10 to create the turn around fact. 
• Repeat with all of the facts that make 10, discussing each one.
• As each make 10 fact is created, add it to your anchor chart. 

Make 10 Rainbow

Another fun and engaging way to teach make 10 facts is with the Make 10 Rainbow activity. In this activity, students color a rainbow, with each color corresponding to numbers 0 through 10. We talked about the pattern with the numbers going up to 10 and then back down to 10, which helps the kids see how the combinations work. 

After coloring, they complete the addition facts that sum up to 10 by filling in the provided boxes. It’s a great visual and hands-on way to reinforce their understanding of number combinations, and it works well as independent practice or in math centers!

Make 10 Addition Facts with Ten Frames

Another great visual for make 10 facts is using a ten frame and two color counters. Your students can build their addition fact on their ten frame and then easily flip the color of the counters to show the turn around fact. 

I like to play a game called Shake, Rattle, and Add. 

• Each student needs a ten frame, a cup with 10 counters, and the recording page (or whiteboard).
• Students will shake their counters and dump them onto their mat. 
• Have them fill the ten frame on their mat with their red and yellow counters. Making sure all the reds are grouped together and all the yellow counters are grouped together. 
• Students will draw the counters on the ten frame on the recording sheet and then write the number sentence to match.
• Put the counters back into the cup and repeat the activity.

This type of activity can be used to practice the make 10 addition strategy all year long.

Make 10 Addition Resources

All of the activities shown in this blog post can be found in my 1st Grade Addition and Subtraction to 10 unit that includes 20 days worth of done for you lesson plans. This classroom tested guided math unit walks students through a CPA approach to learning math fact strategies for addition and subtraction. 

You could get instant access to this and ALL my other math resources inside the Inner Circle Math Membership! It’s your one-stop shop for all things math including guided math units, math centers, exit tickets, math crafts, seasonal surprises and more!

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